Belleville ball hockey player Czechs out gold

The Belleville native and his Team Canada men’s ball hockey squad had just captured the 2017 world championship in the Czech Republic and the playing of the national anthem at the conclusion of a tense 3-2 win over the hometown Czechs in the gold medal game was an emotional moment.

"A couple of us teared up,” said Millington, 26. “For me, it was one of the best feelings of my life. I’d never won anything that big. It’s the highest accomplishment you can get — a world championship.”

Several weeks later, Millington still gets stirred at the memory. And, he’d like to do it again.

He made his national team debut at the 2015 global tournament in Pittsburgh where the Canadians finished a disappointing fourth.

Gold in 2017? Much better, he said.

"As long as my knees hold out, I’ll keep trying to play at the national team level,” said Millington. “Next year is in Russia, so I’m hoping to make the team again and go there.”

Millington has played organized ball hockey for 17 years. He currently plays for Tagline Electrical in the Belleville men’s league.

On the ice, he worked his way up through the Belleville AA minor hockey system and also played Junior C in Napanee and Picton.

"I guess I like ball hockey better because I feel I’m better at it than hockey and have played at a higher level,” said Millington. “I’ve got a lot of travel out of it too — B.C., Alberta, the U.S., Europe.”

Millington said the key to winning a gold medal in the Czech Republic was team speed and skill, plus instant chemistry.

"At the provincial championships, Canada staff scouts you, then let you know if you’re invited to the national team,” said Millington. “Going to Europe was my first time overseas, a huge change, and really nice too. Our team had only one guy left from Pittsburgh two years ago — the rest were all brand new.”

Arriving in the Czech Republic, the Canadian men had time for just a couple of practices before the world championship round robin started. Games were played in the neighbouring towns of Lovosice and Litomerice, about an hour northwest of Prague.

"It was pretty crazy,” said Millington. “All the guys bought in to what we were doing. We weren’t a big team, but we had speed and good stickhandling.”

A tough 5-3 win over the host Czechs in the round robin was the first hint this Canadian team might be capable of something big in 2017.

"Then we beat the U.S. in the semi-finals and they’re usually our biggest rival, so after that we felt pretty confident,” said Millington.

A rematch with the Czechs awaited the Canadians in the gold medal game, facing the host team with revenge on its mind.

"We got down 2-0 in the final, then got our first goal at the end of the second period,” said Millington. “When we were down, nobody really said anything. We knew we just needed one goal to get back in it, and we got it.

"Nobody stopped working. Nobody quit.”

Canada carried newfound momentum into Period 3, tied the tilt, then went ahead with less than five minutes to go.

"We didn’t slow down,” said Millington. “We just held on for the last few minutes.”

At the final buzzer, Canadian teammates and supporters among the crowd of more than 4,000 whooped it up. So did the Americans.

"The U.S. was cheering for us,” said Millington. “A lot of other European teams were too. They all wanted to swap shirts and caps after the game.

"It was pretty cool.”

Looking at a potential career move to law enforcement, Millington, a graduate of Nicholson Catholic College, will study criminology at the University of Western Ontario in London starting in September.

As for ball hockey, he’ll keep playing the game he loves for as long as he’s able.

"After men’s, there’s Masters for 40-plus,” said Millington. “So as long as I can keep running, I’ll play.”